At Les Ambassadeurs (Au Café-Concert / At the Café Concert)
Original title: At Les Ambassadeurs (Au Café-Concert / At the Café Concert), from "L'Estampe Originale"
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many of Toulouse-Lautrec's café-concert scenes that capture the hustle and bustle of the crowd, this 1894 lithograph focuses on a single woman in a pink dress looking through a window. The print, a crayon, brush and spatter lithograph in six colors, belongs to the portfolio 'L'Estampe Originale'.
Description
The woman appears in a pink dress, with a yellow blouse and a head covering. A lit lantern pushes through the window into the picture space, while outside everything remains dark and blurred—a hint of night. Blue, green, pink and yellow dominate the palette, set strongly and with contrast. The layout seems symmetrical, the window forms the pivot; the lighting is clear and precise.
Context
In 1894 the print was made for 'L'Estampe Originale', an art journal that published original graphics by contemporary artists. The subject comes from Parisian nightlife, which Toulouse-Lautrec repeatedly took up. A woman at the window of a café-concert—this theme fits his interest in the mood of such entertainment venues.
Impact
The strong colors and the contrast between the bright lantern and the dark surroundings create an intimate, almost voyeuristic atmosphere. The clear structure and the impressionistic handling of color give the print an immediate, lively presence.
Technique
The lithograph was printed in six colors. Crayon, brush and spatter techniques come together to produce various textures and color gradations. Only a single state of the print exists, which speaks for a careful execution.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)